DEDHAM, Mass. (AP) 鈥� A judge declared a mistrial Monday after jurors deadlocked in the case of a woman accused of killing her Boston police officer boyfriend by striking him with her SUV and leaving him in a snowstorm, a case that drew outsize attention thanks to true crime fanatics, conspiracy theorists and Read鈥檚 pink-shirted supporters.
Prosecutors said in a statement that they intend to retry the case.
Read, a former adjunct professor at Bentley College, faced in the death of Officer John O鈥橩eefe, a 16-year member of the Boston police who was found outside a Canton home of another Boston police officer in January 2022. An autopsy found O鈥橩eefe died of hypothermia and blunt force trauma.
Prosecutors said Read and O鈥橩eefe had been drinking heavily before she dropped him off at a party at the home of Brian Albert, a fellow officer. They said she hit him with her SUV before driving away.
The defense sought to portray Read as the victim, saying O鈥橩eefe was actually had been killed inside Albert鈥檚 home and then dragged outside and left for dead. They argued that investigators focused on Read because she was a 鈥渃onvenient outsider鈥� who saved them from having to consider other suspects, including Albert and other law enforcement officers at the party.
On Friday, a jury foreperson told the judge that they hadn鈥檛 reached a unanimous verdict despite an 鈥渆xhaustive review of the evidence.鈥� The judge told jurors to keep trying. On Monday morning, jurors said they were at an impasse, but the judge asked them to continue deliberating. In the afternoon, they said it would be futile to continue.
鈥淭he deep division is not due to a lack of effort or diligence but rather a sincere adherence to our individual principles or moral convictions," the jury said in a note read by the judge in court.
O鈥橩eefe鈥檚 mother cried after the mistrial was declared, while Read hugged her father and other relatives.
The Norfolk County district attorney's office said in a statement: 鈥淔irst, we thank the O鈥橩eefe family for their commitment and dedication to this long process. They maintained sight of the true core of this case 鈥� to find justice for John O鈥橩eefe. The Commonwealth intends to re-try the case.鈥�
Defense attorney Alan Jackson said he and others representing Read will keep fighting.
鈥淭hey failed. They failed miserably, and they鈥檒l continue to fail. No matter how long it takes, no matter how long they keep trying, we will not stop fighting,鈥� he told reporters outside court.
Testimony during the two-month trial focused on shoddy police work and relationships between the parties. Police acknowledged using red plastic cups to collect blood evidence and a leaf blower to try to clear away snow to reveal evidence. The lead investigator acknowledged making crude statements about Read in texts from his personal cellphone.
Experts disagreed on whether O鈥橩eefe鈥檚 injuries were consistent with being hit by Read鈥檚 luxury SUV, which had a broken taillight. The defense contended the injuries were caused by an altercation and the Albert family鈥檚 aggressive dog.
While the drama played out in a courtroom, dozens of Read鈥檚 supporters dressed in pink gathered each day outside, carrying 鈥淔ree Karen Read鈥� signs and mobbing her when she arrived each day. Motorists honked their horns in support. A smaller group of people who want Read convicted also turned up.
Prosecutors relied on who testified that Read admitted that she hit O鈥橩eefe 鈥� saying 鈥淚 hit him鈥� 鈥� as well as evidence that Read was legally intoxicated or close to it , after she returned to the house with friends and they found the body.
Several witnesses testified the couple had a stormy relationship that had begun to sour. Prosecutors presented angry texts between the couple hours before O鈥橩eefe died. They also played voice messages from Read to O鈥橩eefe that were left after she allegedly struck him, including one left minutes afterward saying, 鈥淛ohn I (expletive) hate you.鈥�
Defense attorneys sought to poke holes in the police investigation, noting that Albert鈥檚 house was never searched for signs of a fight involving O鈥橩eefe and that the was not secured. They suggested that some evidence -- like pieces of her SUV鈥檚 cracked taillight, a broken drinking glass and even a strand of hair -- was planted by police.
A turning point in the trial came when lead investigator, took the stand. He acknowledged sending offensive texts about Read to friends, family and fellow troopers during the investigation. He apologized for the language he used but insisted they had no influence on the investigation.
In his texts, he called Read several names, including 鈥渨hack job.鈥� At one point, he texted his sister that he wished Read would 鈥渒ill herself,鈥� which he told jurors was a figure of speech. And despite having relationships with several witnesses, he remained on the case.
Two expert witnesses hired by the U.S. Department of Justice during an investigation of police handling of the case testified for the defense, providing a scientific analysis for their conclusion that O鈥橩eefe鈥檚 injuries and the physical evidence didn鈥檛 sync with the prosecution theory that he was struck and injured by Read鈥檚 7,000-pound (3,175-kilogram) vehicle.
O鈥橩eefe had a significant head injury and other injuries but lacked significant bruising or broken bones typically associated with being hit by a vehicle at the speed indicated by GPS and the SUV鈥檚 onboard computer.
Michael Casey, The Associated Press
